Agilent buys T&M business from Centellax

16 May 2012

“Eleven years ago, former Agilent Technologies engineer Julio Perdomo left Sonoma County's largest high-tech manufacturer to launch his own startup. On Friday, he sold a chunk of it back to his former employer,” writes the Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, California, where the start-up is based.

The pair announced a definitive agreement for Agilent to acquire Centellax's test and measurement business. This division designs and manufactures products used to measure high-speed optical signals, such as bit-error ratio testers, pattern generators, clock synthesizers, and signal-integrity studio software.

A well-known name in the test and measurement business, Agilent says the acquisition will be complementary to its existing product range. The company says it will be able to address all customer requirements in digital I/O and optical transceiver test, from deep characterization in R&D to cost-effective test in manufacturing up to 32G and beyond.

“Adding Centellax’s products and technology enables us to address the complete life-cycle needs of our customers,” said Juergen Beck, general manager of Agilent’s digital and photonic test division.

Centellax will keep its components division, which manufactures modulator drivers and amplifier chips for telecoms and microwave applications.

“We are proud of the team and the product line we have designed, built and brought to market,” said Julio Perdomo, Centellax CEO. “Looking into the future, I am confident that under Agilent’s leadership this business unit will thrive.”

The transaction is expected to close in mid-May. Financial details were not disclosed.